suchnone #377 Farewell to England

I called PSP before leaving Haslingden to find out he was sick. He had some kind of cold, was worn out and miserable. We had planned to go to a New Year's Eve Party but it looked like it would be put on hold. In fact it was. I started to feel bad myself or it could have been from being worn out from almost 3 weeks of traveling. Also. I was getting nervous about my flight back and more at hand was how long it would take for me to get to the airport during the construction on the railways. Anyway...We spent New Year's at the apartment. I had a few beers and we watched the end of the year quiz and a few movies. Very relaxed. I did some grocery shopping one of the days I was there while PSP slept. On New Year's Day we walked around the area they live, went to a few pubs that he wanted to show me before I left. I have a few pints and a nice pubmeal. We called it an early evening as the next day would be my travel day back to London.

I had even planned ahead. I bought a reserved seat ticket, it was less than an open time one and I would have a seat. But thanks to the construction my seat was next to the bathrooms at the front of the railcar I was riding and it was not even the railcar I was assigned to. After 1 hour and a half of this, finally was able to sit for the last hour or so of the trip to near Gatwick. I had reservations at a nice inn/pub near the airport than provided free transport back and forth from the airport. It was maybe 10 min from the airport. I arrived at the house, checked in and proceeded to lay on the bed and watch BBC until evening meal. I had another fish and chips with guinness and went to bed and sort of slept.

The next morning I awoke, had breakfast, checked my email and got my ride to the airport. It took about 30 min to check in and then 3 hours waiting. I looked for some of the whiskey Eoh's fiance(now husband as of March 8th) had recommended but I got confused and did not buy anything.

As we were boarding the snow began. It was very fine but you could see the flakes as the plane began to take off. Flight was a little better than the one over. I watched Transformers and then some History Channel's history of Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade and Christmas ornaments.

We landed at the same time as 2 other international flights. It only took me 15 min to get into England but an hour and a half to get back into the US. I knew things were bad when I heard one of the flightcrew say " I have never seen it like this before." Finally got through the line and met Sally's Mother who took me home. I checked to make sure things were ok at the house and went to Sally's for the weekend.

Here are some pictures from those last days.




















It was a great trip and one day I will get back over there. I know that have at least one place I can stay and maybe two depending on how long PSP and his wife stay there. I really want to see Scotland and Ireland and to a lesser extent Wales and so many other place in England itself: Nottingham, Stonehenge, Bath, Liverpool etc. i am sort of planning the trip in my head. Hey, you have to start somewhere. Also, I have told next time I go, she goes. Her college roommate lives on Kent.

On another note, I think this blog is coming to an end. I find myself with less and less to say. A lot of people say it, but really my life is boring. And to be honest, I am just repeating things that I really would rather not repeat. So, thank you everyone for coming by and making my life so much more richer. Thanks to my old friends Chad and Julie who got me blogging in the first place. And thank to Wil Wheaton and Magazine Man for inspiration and some damn fine writing.
And to Anne, Joie, Vi, CSG and all the others that have come over the past years, it is not a goodbye but a see you soon.

serene